My not so good race report from VIR.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:00 pm

Since Jason asked, and others knew about my plans for this past weekend I will post a quick update. The weather was beautiful, the track was good, the people were friendly and my weekend sucked.

The plan was simple (or so I thought). Qualify for my provisional, then hang back and play it safe in the races Saturday and Sunday. Absolutely nothing went according to that plan. The car had issues from the get go and I let that effect my driving a lot. I really wish I had taken it out for a shake down before this weekend. Both the car and myself had a lot of cob webs built up from over the winter. I tried too hard to go fast in the start and tried to push the car cold. This is never good. But even then the car wasn't feeling quite right. By the end of the first mock Race session the car popped out of 4th twice. I thought I was just shifting poorly with the new side net in place. As the day went on though it got a little worse and a little worse, and on the actual Race part I lost the transmission all together or at least something in the clutch/pressure plate.

In conclusion I was slow and unsteady from the start and got worse from there. Of course I didn't get the Provisional license. I am sure they just thought I was a bad driver , and yes I should have made better decisions about saving the equipment and the way I was running overall. My only bright spot was one session in the middle of the day where the # 318 AI Mustang, myself and April C. in her new car had fun the entire time. Eric H got some really good shots and the new graphics look great on the car while it is broken in the pits. With a dead trans and not qualifying for the races, I thought it was best to just pack up on Friday night and head home. I then I damaged the trailer on the way out on a stupid rock on the side of the road. The spindle bent and the car and the trailer are still in Danville.

I was in a funk all weekend. I felt I have let myself down, plus the rep of the clubs I run with a bit since I was a bit of high profile person coming into all of this. I am not blaming the car, I was the one who made the decisions both before the weekend on the car, and what to do during the weekend. But I am using this as a learning experience, and Chris C, Director or Mid-A NASA didn’t band me forever (joking), and did say just come back next event and run it again. Not sure if the car will be fixed by then. But as I said, the people were super nice, the weather was almost perfect, and the track was great as always.

I am also certain now that you cannot do it all alone. You really need a person or two that can come with me to help out this weekend and one person cannot do everything that is needed to be done. The Mid-A region has a full schedule for those doing the Comp school and there is literally no break all day except 30 minutes for lunch. You are either in class or on track for the full 8 hours.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:17 pm

Keep your head up Marty. I would chalk it up to a bad weekend with mechanical issues. - AB

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:37 pm

I am feeling much better about it now. I am just chaulking it up to "one of those weekends".

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

damn marty i'm really really sorry to hear that, i can appreciate the frustration and disappointment you must have felt. get that bad luck out of the way now and have a successful rest of the season.

will you be doing comp school again in march? if so i can probably help you, i'll be instructing that weekend but friday should be open.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:42 pm

Jason Tower wrote:

damn marty i'm really really sorry to hear that, i can appreciate the frustration and disappointment you must have felt. get that bad luck out of the way now and have a successful rest of the season.

will you be doing comp school again in march? if so i can probably help you, i'll be instructing that weekend but friday should be open.

thanks, it is appreciated. It all depends on how quick I can get the car back and up and running.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:47 pm

Indeed Marty, chin up sir. That's an unfortunate chain of events. While the mechanical issues with the car are irritating, at the very least, your issues stayed with you (no damage to anyone else's car). You will be 100% ready for your next outing.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:59 pm

Marty, to quote Tom Skerritt from the movie TOPGUN, "you have a confidence problem".

don't feel bad, i have had them also, albeit on a smaller stage. i could barely get my schnitt together enough to get signed off for solo with Chin one day. fortunately my car stayed together and i muddled my way thru an extended session to prove to the instructor i was indeed capable. but a good friend of mine passed on this bit of wisdom.. "just go out there and drive the car, you know how to do this"

you are more than capable of overcoming this minor setback, Dude. fix the car, and flog the sheist out of it a few times in retribution for its indiscretions.

and when you get back to Comp School, if you can't find a REO, i'll crew for you.

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

steve remchak wrote:

Marty, to quote Tom Skerritt from the movie TOPGUN, "you have a confidence problem".

and when you get back to Comp School, if you can't find a REO, i'll crew for you.

it's RIO - radar intercept officer. perhaps you should watch top gun again, i'm sure it's one of your favorite movies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzY9a-WmE6o

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:51 pm

Jason Tower wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

Marty, to quote Tom Skerritt from the movie TOPGUN, "you have a confidence problem".

and when you get back to Comp School, if you can't find a REO, i'll crew for you.

it's RIO - radar intercept officer. perhaps you should watch top gun again, i'm sure it's one of your favorite movies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33Wbxh3Xz9c

Radical Egotistical Optimist. bite me, racerboy. :twisted:

Stacy King · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:12 am

It's a real shame the Feb event didn't happen... obviously, you probably would have exposed some of those issues.

But seriously... I wanna see pics of the new graphics!

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:15 am

I feel for you Marty. Like I have said before, it was the most stressful day I have put myself through. I was glad to see Eric there helping you out.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:49 am

jimpastorius wrote:

I feel for you Marty. Like I have said before, it was the most stressful day I have put myself through. I was glad to see Eric there helping you out.

agree 100% now. Eric was a great help. BTW, heard you had a bit of trouble yourself.

And Stacy, we have some great pics coming.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:27 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

jimpastorius wrote:

I feel for you Marty. Like I have said before, it was the most stressful day I have put myself through. I was glad to see Eric there helping you out.

agree 100% now. Eric was a great help. BTW, heard you had a bit of trouble yourself.

And Stacy, we have some great pics coming.

During testing we broke a push rod in the fist session, not something you keep spares in the trailer. We got it replaced and made it out for the third and fourth sessions. The car was clicking off low 2:17 without being pushed.

Saturday morning practice session resulted in a 2:15 on full tread depth RA1's. We figured there were three area to eliminate shifts and let the motor wind out. We were over 2 seconds faster than the next CMC2 car. I felt that there was an easy 2:13 out there for qualifying.

Went to fire up the car before qualifying and the motor let go. The motor is out of the car and torn down. We know what caused it, but not sure how it got there.

So we will be back in March.

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:30 pm

Not to minimize the sucky weekend, but, sometimes when I am having a pity party I go out in my garage and look and say: "Hmm, Lets see I've got a race car and a BMW motorcycle" Damn, life doesn't suck.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:49 pm

clinehall wrote:

Not to minimize the sucky weekend, but, sometimes when I am having a pity party I go out in my garage and look and say: "Hmm, Lets see I've got a race car and a BMW motorcycle" Damn, life doesn't suck.

Pitty party was done by Saturday morning, you missed the cake.

Actually, I just took the kids out to kids town and spent the day with the family. I was feeling much better by Lunch time.

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My not so good race report from VIR.

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